Drying plant.



DRYING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig.1

G. FALGHI.

G. FALGHI.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913.

1 ,O79,54 -7, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V e. FALOHI.

DRYING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1913. I 1 079 541 Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GIOVANNI FALCI-II, OF MARSEILLE, FRANCE.

DRYING PLANT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI FALOHI, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of Marseille, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Plants; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to drying plants, or apparatus for drying materials, such as alimentary pastes, of which macaroni, vermi celli, noodles &c., are types.

The material to be dried is intermittently subjected to a current of air, either fresh air, heated or unheated, or air that has previously passed over the material.

The apparatus comprises a closed chamher in which the wheeled racks or other supports carrying the material to be dried, are arranged in a circle, and continuously operating blowing means arranged to direct the air onto the racks or supports successively.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to the drying of macaroni, but wish it to be understood that other substances or articles may be similarly dried.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are similarly designated--Figure 1 is a plan view of a drying chamber constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the interior of the chamber showing the charging door and air inlet and exit. Fig. 1 is a section showing the air conduit. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification for blowing the drying air horizontally through the racks. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an elevation similar to Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a double tier drying chamber. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of an apparatus having a plurality of nozzles.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the drying chamber 1 contains the wheeled racks 2 in which macaroni or other paste is hung preparatory to drying. These racks are placed in a circle around the chamber 1. At the center of the chamber is a blower 3, of the rotary fan type, driven by a dynamo &. The dynamo armature is shown belted to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 19, 1913.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Serial No. 768,615.

the fan wheel, but may be directly connected thereto, if desired.

The fan discharges upward into a pipe 5, rotatably connected to the fan casing. The pipe 5 extends upward, and then horizontal and terminates in a downwardly directed discharge nozzle 6 provided with deflector or guide plates 7. The nozzleis approximately as long as the racks. The pipe 5 is secured at its vertical portion to a shaft 8, which shaft is provided at its lower end with a worm wheel 9 driven by a worm 10 on a shaft a that carriers a pulley 7) belted to a pulley 11 on the fan shaft. The shaft 8, continually moving, makes about four rotations per minute, more or less.

The fan 3 receives air from outside the chamber 1 through a conduit 12 capable of being closed by a door or valve 14, or equivalent device. In the conduit, adjacent the fan in-take are valves or doors 13, admitting air from the interior of the chamber. The valved inlet opening 14: is preferably above the bottom of the chamber, as shown. The chamber is also provided with one or more valved outlet openings 15, preferably, but not necessarily, at the bottom thereof.

When the valves or doors let and 15 are closed, those 13 are open, and the air in the chamber will circulate through the fan, r0- tating pipe 5, and nozzle 6 over the material and back to the fan through 13.

If it is not desirable or necessary to re-use the air in the chamber, the valves 13 are closed and those 14; and 15 are opened, when air from outside the drying chamber will be drawn through the inlet 141- and conduit 12 to the fan 8 and be thereby discharged over the material to pass out of chamber 1 through the openings 15.

The racks or trucks 2 are introduced and withdrawn from the chamber through a suitable charging door 16.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the structure is substantially the same; the racks 2 being provided with trays on which the material is laid, and consequently the nozzle 6 is arranged to discharge horizontally, being connected to the horizontal pipes 5'" on shaft 8.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 8 there are two superposed drying chambers, 1 and 1, having air passages 19 between them and closed by doors or valves. Each chamber is provided with a valved outlet, 15, 15'. That portion of the blowing mechanism located in the lower chamber 1 is identical with that described with reference to Fig. 1, while the pipe 5 has an extension 5 through the floor of the upper chamber, the shaft 8 being likewise extended, as at 8. The upper chamber 1 is arranged for the reception of racks 2, similar to those shown in Fig. 6, the nozzle 6 of pipe o being laterally directed. Between the pipe 5 and its extension 5 is a directing diaphragm 1'7 and a valve 18. By means of said valve the passage of air through the extension 5 can be cut off.

By closing the air inlets 15 and 15' of the two chambers and also the air inlet 14, and opening the valves 18 and 19 air wil pass from the fan through 6 and 6 to the material to be dried in the chambers 1 and 1 the air discharged into chamber 1 returning through 19 to the lower chamber 1 and mixing with the air in said chamber, and the mixture passes to the fan through valve 13.

By closing valves 19 and opening valves 15 and 15 the air discharged from the nozzles 6 and 6 after passing over the material will pass from the respective chambers through said valves 15 and 15.

By closing valves 18 and 19 the upper chamber is rendered inoperative, and may be discharged or recharged during the drying operation in the lower chamber. By placing a valve in the horizontal portion of pipe 5, all the air from the fan can be directed to the upper chamber 1 in which the drying may proceed, while the lower chamber is being recharged.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 2, excepting that the pipe 5 is provided with two horizontal branches 0 each terminating in a nozzle 6 over the circular row of racks 2.

Any other supporting devices for the material to be dried may be used, and the air may be heated, in any well-known manner.

It is also obvious that in Fig. 8 there may be a plurality of discharge pipes 5 and 5 in each chamber, similar to the structure shown in Fig. 9.

I claim- 1. In a drying plant, the combination with a chamber having valve-controlled air inlet and air outlet openings; of devices to support the material to be dried circularly arranged in said chamber, a blower having its in-take connected to the valved air inlet opening, means to open said intake to the interior of the chamber, and a rotating discharge pipe for the blower having its exit end directed toward said devices, whereby a continuous current of air is swept over the material holding devices to pass through them in succession and whereby either fresh air from outside said chamber may be discharged, or the air within the chamber repeatedly used.

2. In a drying plant, the combination with two superposed chambers having a valve connection between them; of devices for 11]; wigg tlle inaterigl to be drie arranged around said chanibers,alilowerinofi chamber, rotatable discharge pipes for the blower, one of which pipes is located in each chainber and discharges on said devices during rotation.

3. In a drying plant, the combination with two chambers having valved connection with one another; of devices arranged around the chambers to support the material to be dried, an air supply pipe having a discharge portion in each chamber arranged to discharge on said devices and means to impart relative movement to said portions and devices.

4. In a drying plant, the combination with a plurality of chambers having a valved connection between them, and independent valved outlets; of drying racks circularly arranged in said cmrsg a' central blower in one chamber having rotatable discharge branch pipes in each chamber arranged to discharge on said racks, and a valved air supply conduit for the blower.

5. In a drying plant, the combination with a plurality of chambers having a valved connection between them, and independent valved outlets; of drying racks circularly arranged in said chambers, a central blower in one chamber having rotatable discharge branch pipes in each chamber arranged to discharge on said racks, a valved air supply conduit for the blower, and means to heat the air passing through said pipe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GIOVANNI F ALCI-II. lVitnesses P. LAGRANGE, M. FoUeUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

